Harvey Hall renovation plan advances to design phase

Oct. 19, 2011

A project to renovate the second oldest building on the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus has received a crucial approval from the Wisconsin State Building Commission.

The commission Wednesday approved spending money to prepare the design documents to renovate Harvey Hall, built in 1916. The project, which has an estimated cost of nearly $30 million, will split $2.3 million in planning funds with a project on the UW-Oshkosh campus.

“This is a major step in the progress of this important project,” said Chancellor Charles W. Sorensen. “This is our major academic building, and it needs to be brought up to modern standards.”

Harvey Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing building in the Menomonie Downtown Historic District. With four stories, plus a basement, the 101,200-square-foot building is one of the most heavily used academic and office buildings on campus.

Four academic departments and four service offices are housed in Harvey Hall. More than 5,500 students generating 34,000 student credit hours take courses in the building each semester.

The effort to renovate Harvey Hall dates back many years; problems with the building’s infrastructure were identified in the early 1990s.

The project includes replacing and upgrading all mechanical, electrical, telecommunications and life safety systems and improving ADA accessibility. Most portions of the building also would have new HVAC systems installed, and a secondary electrical distribution system would be added.

Other upgrades would include a new roof, restrooms and automatic sprinkler system, updating an elevator and adding a second elevator. Classrooms and offices would be reconfigured and improved to meet current needs and technology demands.

The timetable for the project is uncertain because of the complexity of the project.

The project is the second part of an overall plan that started with a $5.1 million renovation of Harvey Hall Theatre, which has been completed.